Coming to think about it, we all wish we had a more equitable society. We all would like to ensure appropriate work conditions, fair wages and an employment horizon for all workers, wherever they may be. Wouldn’t we all hope to see these ideals realized? Had we canvassed the surfers of this site, they would have most probably voiced their unanimous support for the proposed vision. After all, we all want to live in a better world.

Now, let’s reformulate the poll to some extent and present you, the respondents, with the following questions: Would any of you agree to live in a country where a small number of workers who have control over essential services are in a position to suspend their supply at will? And would any of you be willing to live in a state where a privileged minority, in control of national resources that are public property by right, could draw outrageously exorbitant salaries, hire for work whoever they may be interested in [regardless of qualifications and disregarding commonly accepted procedures], and, throwing their weight around, intimidate elected public officials, holding them at bay for years? Well, it seems that in this case, too, the response would be virtually undisputed. In all likelihood, none of you would be prepared to accept any of the options enumerated above.

Alas, the gloomy picture depicted in the [suggested virtual] poll is the very reality the citizens of the state of Israel have been living in for too many years. And what’s even more disheartening, rather than showing any signs of improvement, the situation is going from bad to worse.

And don’t misunderstand us, we are not talking about all those hundreds of thousands of workers organized in the Israeli trade unions, many of which deserve due credit for their steadfast endeavor to protect the rights of their affiliated members and to forestall their mistreatment by top executive echelons holding excessive power. However, alongside those rightful organizations of workers, a number of highly influential — much too powerful — labor unions are dominating the local market. They are all monopolies operating under the aegis of the state; they all employ high-handed tactics in their dealings with corporate employees and managers alike; and they all as one make a bad name for organized labor.